"This is about joining forces to strike at Shudao Mountain," Gong Shixi's mouth twitched slightly, having long heard of the title of the number one person at the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, yet he never expected to meet in this way.

Meeting for the first time and being roped into fighting against the people of Shudao Mountain, he certainly wasn't pleased.

Yet, having been sought out in such a manner, did he really have a choice?

What shocked him the most was how Shi Chun had found out about their concealed identities.

If someone could track them down like this, they definitely weren't trying to deceive him.

Not just him, the four comrades beside him all took on a solemn look as well, comprehending the implication behind Shi Chun's words.

Xu Anzhang's group understood as well, because they had already been aware of the identity of the Qianyan Sect. Under the current circumstances, coming to Qianyan Sect and saying such things, only a fool wouldn't understand. Shi Chun was planning to join forces with another branch of the Demon Path to move against Shudao Mountain.

Forced into such a situation, they likely had no choice but to protect themselves.

The signal to start had already been given, so the Four Cauldron Sect group quietly went on alert.

The Mingshan Sect group also got the gist, knowing there was no such thing as stealing magical treasures to find Divine Fire that these people had carried away. Hearing these words, everyone was alarmed and subconsciously went on guard.

Even the Shudao Mountain group, through the cryptic conversation, sensed something amiss and heightened their vigilance.

Gu Lianni said fiercely, "Shi Chun, you better not be playing tricks on me!"

"Hush... slap, slap!"

Gong Shixi suddenly cast a spell and blew a loud whistle, followed by a vigorous clapping.

Thus, from the far and near surroundings underground, a group of people suddenly appeared, and following Gong Shixi's gestures, twenty people shockingly assumed a siege position against about fifty from Shudao Mountain.

The people of Shudao Mountain quickly adapted, some facing outward, while others continued to surround Shi Chun's group.

Whoosh! Shi Chun drew his blade.

This was the signal, Wu Jinliang's large saber flipped into his hand, and the tense Mingshan Sect group all brandished their weapons, Four Cauldron Sect members doing the same.

Seeing no one else emerging, Gu Lianni felt somewhat relieved, but also wary. Twenty people daring to involve themselves in a surrounding formation against them, especially given the might of Shudao Mountain—who among the typical Artifact Refining Sects would have such courage? This boldness was extraordinary.

There was also some contempt mixed with amusement; combining merely thirty-something people against over fifty didn't seem logical.

But she hadn't expected that Shi Chun, with just a few words, could pull out a sect's group to risk their lives, which was truly surprising, even for her Shudao Mountain, other sects wouldn't usually be so obedient.

It was precisely for this reason that they hadn't anticipated this turn of events.

What really angered her was that they had deceived her again, infuriating her as they had fallen for their lies once more, despite having been told expressly not to believe a word they said.

She scoffed repeatedly, "Shi Chun, it seems you really want to court death!"

Shi Chun responded, "Do you think your group of over fifty people has an advantage against our thirty-something? Do you really think having powerful magical treasures gives you the upper hand?"

Then, turning his head to Xu Anzhang, he said, "Brother Xu, at this point, you can't keep hiding your trump card. Show us your magical treasure, let Shudao Mountain also widen their horizons."

Xu Anzhang gave him a sidelong glance, cursing internally; this fellow had started ordering him around.

But at this moment, it wasn't suitable to openly show discord, and with Shudao Mountain's stance as it was, without showing their strength, they couldn't deter the other party.

So, he could only slap the Qiankun Bag, grasping a black flag that shot out and stuck into the ground. The fabric of the flag was a deep, vivid black, shimmering slightly like rippling water when it fluttered slightly.

Everyone's gaze fixed on this flag, not knowing what treasure it was, but recognizing that anything brought out at this time must be extraordinary.

Shi Chun, not knowing what the treasure was either, pointed at Xu Anzhang and then at Gong Shixi, "Gu Lianni, you really shouldn't be resentful. Either of these two, you can pick either for a duel, guaranteed each is stronger than you. If it really comes to a fight, even if your side might win, you might not survive to leave!"

Gu Lianni shouted angrily, "You've deceived us repeatedly and even killed disciples of Shudao Mountain. Even if I have to suffer mutual destruction, I won't let you go!"

Shi Chun loudly questioned, "Haven't you deceived me? Do you think we're fools? The Element Locking Array artifact in the Ice Field had clearly vanished without a trace, not so easily found. If you can, bring out the remaining artifacts of the Element Locking Array for me to see. Just handle them over and I, along with my group, will surrender immediately!"

This statement truly hit a soft spot, making Gu Lianni's face turn red and white alternately, truly embarrassed.

Not just her, the expression of everyone from Shudao Mountain also spelled out guilt.

Wu Jinliang laughed sinisterly, with a knife propped on his shoulder, and the mouth of the gourd on his back already open, ready at any moment.

Gu Lianni rebutted forcefully, "If there's any deceit, it was you who deceived me first! Today, if you don't hand over the items, don't expect to leave alive!"

"Stop trying to scare me here! What is the purpose of all sects coming here? It's all for the Divine Fire, that is the ultimate goal. As long as we can obtain enough Divine Fire, isn't every sect prepared to pay the price? I don't believe you, Gu Lianni, would act recklessly!" Shi Chun said disdainfully, waving his hand and then pointing to the allied forces of the three sects at his side, "You don't know our depth, and today I'm betting you wouldn't dare make a rash move!"

Gu Lianni was furious, her rage evident on her face before she could speak, Pang Hou already erupted angrily, "You scoundrel..."

"Shut up!" Shi Chun interrupted sharply, waving and pointing at the people from Shudao Mountain, "A bunch of fools, if it weren't for your antics, I wouldn't have resorted to this! If you don't show some real strength, there's no way to reason with you properly.

I've repeated time and time again, it was a misunderstanding, yet you refuse to listen and curse at every word, not giving a chance for any explanation. Do you think your brains have taken in water? We had already reached a cooperative agreement on the Ice Field, and you already agreed to the final concessions, why would I deceive you? Unless I was sure to annihilate all of you, otherwise, wouldn't the trick at the exit be doomed?

Have you thought about it? If I knew there was something terrifying inside that ice column, would I dare to touch it? I was the first one to take the knife to it!

I knew that you were aware of the diversion tactic, yet why would I continue playing the trick at the exit? What for? To wait for you to catch me?

Did I run when I saw you approaching? I was waiting for you, wanting to clear up the misunderstanding and continue the previous collaboration, but you were like rabid dogs, refusing to listen to any explanation.

I had no choice but to lure you here, it's only by displaying this confrontational strength could you calm down and have a proper discussion.

The goal is only to give you a chance to prove it was a misunderstanding because I want to continue the previous cooperation, because we had no previous grievances, because I want to prove it was a misunderstanding caused by your impulsiveness.

Now, I'll send someone away, you just need to send a trustworthy person with my person to verify if the evidence I provided really proves your misunderstanding.

If it can't prove it, and can't earn your trust, it's not too late to start a war. If it proves that it was a mistaken conflict caused by your inability to distinguish, you must apologize to me, not for anything else, but for the oath of poison taken by Gu Lianni!"

Without giving anyone a chance to breathe, Shi Chun rapidly said, then turned his head, "Jinliang, you go personally, take their people to check."

"Alright." Wu Jinliang laughed in a sly tone.

Shi Chun turned to Gu Lianni, raising his jaw, "Hurry up, send someone, who will go to verify?"

Even after his rapid outburst, those from Shudao Mountain were still pondering, sorting through and circling their thoughts, and Gu Lianni still wore doubts on her face.

After Shi Chun waited briefly, he impatiently said, "Stop pretending to be profound with me! As I said, our forces are arranged here, this is our confidence. You don't know our capability, dare not make rash moves, the least risky method is to send someone to check with my person. How is it, that Shudao Mountain is led by a woman, not a single courageous man to step forward?"

Wu Jinliang chuckled again.

Pang Hou, hearing this, couldn't bear it and spoke loudly, "Master Uncle, I will go with him to check."

Gu Lianni instinctively looked towards Yuan Yao, seeing him hesitant, she took a deep breath and said, "Okay, be careful."

Shi Chun immediately gestured with his head to Wu Jinliang.

Wu Jinliang then leaped into the air, riding the Wind Scale away.

Since it was communicated well, no one from Shudao Mountain stopped him, letting him go.

Pang Hou, mustering his courage, flashed and followed, knowing that following the large man required some bravery, because his fellow sect disciple had said this person was a master hidden in plain sight.

Gong Shixi, who had observed the entire drama, didn't quite understand the specifics but grasped the overall situation. It seemed that his Qianyan Sect was just a victim of an unexpected disaster, being used merely as a show of force by a group of unexpected arrivals, but why?

Yet cooperation was not optional, as the other party knew their background, once exposed, they could forget about the Divine Fire, they definitely couldn't make it through the exit, nor would they dare to, most likely trapped to death in the Divine Fire Domain.

But they couldn't act foolish either, Gong Shixi had to speak, "Brother Shi Chun, what do you mean by all this?"

Shi Chun held his sword upside-down and bowed towards him, "Brother Gong, just wait, when the person returns, naturally, there will be a satisfactory explanation for you."

Gong Shixi wanted to say more, yet being separated by the forces from Shudao Mountain, he couldn't even whisper to Shi Chun. Clearly, the people from Shudao Mountain wouldn't easily let Shi Chun escape from the enclosure, and some topics between them were not meant for others' ears.

Listening this far, it was clear that Shudao Mountain hadn't realized it was related to the Demon Path, otherwise they would have fought to the death earlier, and there wouldn't be such a standoff.

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